#BringBackOurGirls Protesters To Сhallenge Police Ban In Court

The #BringBackOurGirls protesters have declared on Tuesday, June 2, their intention to secure a restraining order against the police over a ban on their protests in Abuja.

The protesters stated this via their twitter handle, quoting one of their leaders, Oby Ezekwesili: “We will go to court tomorrow to seek a restraining order against the police.”

The protesters decision follows public outrage and condemnations that have trailed the decision of the Nigeria Police Force to ban all protests in Abuja which demand freedom for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

Joseph Mbu, the Abuja Commissioner of Police, announced the ban on Monday, June 1.

Last week, #BringBackOurGirls protesters led by Ms. Ezekwesili, former Education Minister, were attacked by suspected pro-government thugs.

“There is no basis for and no power of FCT Commissioner of Police to ban peaceful assembly of any group of persons in the city. None at all,” Ms. Ezekwesili, one of the leaders of the #BringBackOurGirls protests, said via her twitter handle.

“We of the AbujaFamily of #BringBackOurGirls have in the face of harassment by both the Nigerian Police and hired thugs maintained our civility.

“What Commissioner Mbu should do is reprimand their sponsored thugs who attacked us, women at our peaceful gathering. He can. He hired them,” Ms. Ezekwesili wrote.

“If Mbu’s daughter were one of the over 200 daughters of Nigeria held captive by terrorists and we came out to stand for their cause, he would do this?” Mrs. Ezekwesili added.

The former minister assured the families of those whose daughters were kidnapped that of their continued support.

“No matter how direly they want to take our focus off our #ChibokGirls, we shall not permit them that luxury,” she wrote.